Thailand Cost of Living for Expats
One of the main attractions for western people to move to an Asian country such as Thailand is the boost on the quality of life they receive, due to the fact that their western income is worth considerably more in local currency.
Consider the fact that a meal in a good restaurant in Thailand is likely to cost in the region of $10, then it is clear to see that the phrases 'more bang for the buck' can be applied. Obviously, the cost of living in Thailand as in other countries is determined at the base level by the area in which you reside. If you were to rent an expensive condo in the centre of Bangkok, and to eat in western style restaurants every day, then it is unlikely that you would find the cost of living all that much cheaper. However, in other areas, especially the more rural areas that have yet to see any amount of tourism, the cost of living can be incredibly cheap. Below we will take a look at three alternative lifestyles. One is a more western lifestyle, in an area populated by many expats. Another is a middle of the road lifestyle, in nice area, but far less flamboyant. The third and last sees the person living in a provincial town, largely surrounded by only Thai culture, with very few western influence evident.
Living Costs
Western lifestyle
Renting a modern, fully equipped apartment in the centre of Bangkok, eating out at western or fusion style restaurants each day, purchasing western import good from the supermarket, drinking imported beer and visiting top nightclubs. For this kind of life, you could expect to spend anything from $2000 upwards.
Middle of the road lifestyle
Renting a furnished, modern house in one of the less expensive areas such as Phuket or Koh Samui, eating out every day, but predominantly Thai food, purchasing the odd luxury imported item from the supermarket, drinking local beer and visiting a bar a couple of nights a week. For this kind of life, you would expect to spend around £1250 to $1500 per month.
Frugal lifestyle
Renting a furnished, modern house in a provincial town such as Surin, Nong Kai or Karat, eating out every day, Thai food only with the occasional western treat, purchasing only Thai goods in the supermarket, drinking local beer occasionally, visiting a bar once or twice a week. For this kind of life, you could expect to spend around $800 to $1000 per month.
Typical Costs
Below are listed the typical cost for certain items, in three places. The first place being Bangkok, the most expensive, the second place being Koh Samui, a popular tourist destination, and the final place being Surin, a rural town in North East Thailand. The prices are in Thai Baht, you will need to convert them to your own currency.
Bangkok
- 1 month rent for 3 bedroom house – 20,000 Baht
- Meal for 2 in a good restaurant – 1,000 Baht
- Large bottle of imported beer in a bar – 200 Baht
- Large bottle of local beer in a bar – 120 Baht
- Breakfast for 2 in a Thai café – 300 Baht
Koh Samui
- 1 month rent for 3 bedroom house – 12,000 Baht
- Meal for 2 in a good restaurant – 700 Baht
- Large bottle of imported beer in a bar – 150 Baht
- Large bottle of local beer – 90 Baht
- Breakfast for 2 in a Thai café – 200 Baht
Surin
- 1 month rent for 3 bedroom house – 6,000 Baht
- Meal for 2 in a good restaurant – 400 Baht
- Large bottle of imported beer in a bar – 90 Baht
- Large bottle of local beer – 60 Baht
- Breakfast for 2 in a Thai café – 80 Baht
So we can clearly see that the area you decide to live is going to entirely dictate the cost of living. If you need access to other expats, and prefer to eat familiar food and socialize with other westerners, then your cost of living is going to be high. If you are happy to immerse yourself in to Thai culture, with very few other westerners around, then things become far cheaper.
Imported items are always more expensive in Thailand, as you would expect. Interestingly, drinking alcohol is also relatively expensive compared to other items. Quite often you will find you can buy an entire meal for less than the price of a single bottle of beer.
Banking
Opening a bank account with a Thai bank is possible, but not always easy. Thai banks in the popular tourist areas are usually more accommodating, having dealt with westerners very frequently. Many banks will insist that you have a work permit before you can open an account, other simply require you to hold a non-immigrant visa of some type. Bank charges can be quite high, especially using western credit and debit cards in a Thai ATM machine.
There are also some security risks associated with Thai banks. There are frequently reports of card cloning and other fraudulent acts, which often cost the victim large sums of money. As a rule of thumb, if you don't need the money in Thailand, then leave it where it is, simply transfer your monthly allowance in to your Thai bank account each month, and keep any principal sum you have safe and secure in your own bank.
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